Images via Neighbours
A sense of anticipation has swirled around the McLaren Vale community since March, awaiting the return of a much-loved market stall but instead of a pop up, they’ve got a fresh spot to call home for more than just weekends hours.
The powerhouse couple, Angelle and Daniel are behind Neighbours, a former market spot famous for its soft, doughy crumpets.
Speaking with the duo back in March, they were beyond excited to get the new journey underway, giving each detail the right amount of attention.
“Inside, we’ve kept it really simple, there’s cement sheeting, painted cement floors. It’s kind of minimal, no-nonsense and kept simple,” they told us.
The venue features outdoor and indoor seating, with timber finishes and black accents, within the industrial space, that has gone from plain shed to our next popular weekday brunch spot.
The crumpet recipe comes all the way from Paris, where the couple met 20 years ago. The dough is fermented for 72 hours and you’ll find they pair perfectly ‘with house-made cultured butter and jam or local honey.’
“Our style of crumpet was very different. It was very light and fluffy, it wasn’t dense,” she said.
“There are no additives to it. We use organic flour, water and natural yeast. In a sourdough crumpet there are so many layers to it, it’s a very complex thing to do.”
Neighbours was born back in France and inspired by the Australian way of living, a little bit of a reflection of the way Aussies live and go about their community. The crumpets came after, as no where in france offered the delicacy we are able to find at the local supermarket.
Other items on the menu include, smashed avo and scrambled eggs, and when the season moves so does the menu offering and special board chalk writing.
On the opening announcement the duo shared that the spot is “A place built around regulars and familiarity, where good food and coffee bring people together.”
“Caring deeply about how things are made,” they continued.
“Not cutting corners on what matters, making things from scratch.”
“That’s what we’ve carried with us from Paris, to our farmers market tent, and now into something more permanent in McLaren Vale,” they wrote.
“Shaped by everything we’ve learned, everywhere we’ve been, and the people we’ve met along the way.”
Neighbours is officially open from Monday to Friday, where the coffee, cakes and more importantly, crumpets are waiting for you.
Neighbours
Where: 402 Main Road, McLaren Vale
When: Monday to Friday 8am–2:30pm, Kitchen closes 2pm
For more information, click here.
